Australia Invaded!! NY59Giants (A) vs Olorin (J)

[ny59giants]

July 13 thru 18:
I have fallen about a month behind and will do almost a week worth for a few post to get caught up as mid-August is about to see some major activity. [:)]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
Sailfish gets a TT hit on an xAK.
Gato gets an xAK with two TT attacks.

CVs:
The damaged CVE Altamaha reaches Adelaide [39-60(45)-2-0] and will need 23 days pierside before moving south to Melbourne to complete repairs.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area (base and 1 hex to west) - Up to 2 large Sendai of Tojos sweep (one over each hex). Then, Oscars escorts in over 100 Helens to hit the AF and/or troops daily.

Taung Gyi - 3rd New Chinese Corp is 1 hexes due east. It is hit again by Helens with the occasional Sally group thrown in. Over 35 bombers involved.

China:
Sian - The 27 Oscars sweep daily with occasional Sally & Sonia or they alternated to hit Tienshui to the north.

Urumchi - Continues to survive repeated attacks.

Australia:
Horn Island - Normal sweeps by one to three groups of P-38s with my 2e bombers keeping the AF closed. Occasional Allied BB TF with 2 CLs and 6 DDs hit the base.

Kalgoorlie - Either the base is hit or the troops to the west are attacked. Nick is given up basing fighters here now.

Perth - Night time bombing with close to 100% moonlight is most ineffective as BB Ise becomes a 500 lb bomb magnet (over 10 hits one night). It does cause Nick to empty the port of ships. I have over 100 bombers involved for 3 days. However, almost half don't find the target nightly.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke -

Rabaul - I try the same thing here as I did at Perth with similar results. The 2 BGs (96 B-24s) from Cooktown hit some ships.

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Jorhat AF5; Lahore AF8; Bhamo AF6; Jorhat AF6; Esperance P5; Portland Roads F4; Karachi AF9; Tezpur AF7;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Greater Luganville area invasions forces start to gather.

[ny59giants]

July 19 thru 24:
Mr Corsair is one nasty, nasty fighter!! [:-] [:D]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
Seahorse sinks a xAK off Carnarvon.
Gar gets a TT hit on an AO off Carnarvon, but no sinking sounds.
Trout hits an xAP off Carnarvon.
Bowfin sinks a PB off Geraldton.

CVs:
CV Gettysburg arrives at Panama.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area (base and 1 hex to west) - Up to 2 large Sendai of Tojos sweep (one over each hex). Then, Oscars escorts in over 100 Helens to hit the AF and/or troops daily. I try LRCAP over the base on 20th with mixed results. We lose about 1:1 for the day (50 each).

Taung Gyi - 3rd New Chinese Corp is 1 hexes due east. It is hit again by Helens with the occasional Sally group thrown in. Over 35 bombers involved. Some days he shifts these bombers to Shwebo area.

China:
Sian - The 27 Oscars sweep daily with occasional Sally & Sonia or they alternated to hit Tienshui to the north.

Urumchi - Continues to survive repeated attacks.

Australia:
Horn Island - Due to not encountering any LRCAP for days, I'm resting my P-38s and pay for it with a LRCAP trap on 20th. I lose 18 for 5. Lesson is to have sweeps with some fighters on LRCAP and then some of the slower fighters as escorts. To my readers, don't get lazy!! [:-] I keep rotating in PT boats to the base to slow down any surface resupply missions. They sink a SC and MTB with the help of 3 DDs.

Kalgoorlie - Either the base is hit or the troops to the west are attacked. Nick is given up basing fighters here now. He does throw out a very long LRCAP on 21st to troops one west of base.

Morning Air attack on 3rd Tank Regiment, at 55,147 , near Kalgoorlie

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 126

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
261 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(19 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 19 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
Zuiho-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(44 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 44 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
282 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (36 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(36 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
36 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead
284 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(27 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 27 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes

The devil is in the details. While the raw numbers look good, the actual number of Georges in the hex at one times is not enough. A second wave with 25 P-47s shoot down 7:1. 44 Georges are lost today. [:D]

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke -

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Katha F4; Cooktown F6;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Greater Luganville area invasions forces continue to gather.

[ny59giants]

July 25 thru 31:
Vava'u is one busy port.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
Stingray gets a xAKL to east of Darwin.
Steelhead hits an xAK off Saipan.
S-45 gets two AMc off Merauke.

CVs:
Mine are headed from NZ to Vava'u.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area (base and 1 hex to west) - Up to 2 large Sendai of Tojos sweep (one over each hex). Then, Oscars escorts in over 100 Helens to hit the AF and/or troops daily.

Taung Gyi - No longer targeted. He just has Helens in Burma now.

China:
Sian - The 27 Oscars sweep daily with occasional Sally & Sonia (up to 55 total).

Sining - Survives shock attack on 25th (base in 2 NE of Lanchow).

Urumchi - Continues to survive repeated attacks.

Australia:
Horn Island - Sweeps followed by 2e bombers (about 60) daily and then I throw in the B-24s from Cooktown for a few days. My SB2C go north of base one day with light escort (lose 31 SB2C & 20 P-40s). They find a nice LRCAP trap over his ships and now head back to Townsville for R&R (poor morale and need to train up new pilots). For their efforts, they get a single 1000 lb bomb hit on a CM. Hopefully, she sinks.

Kalgoorlie - Either the base is hit or the troops to the west are attacked. The base is swept by 2 groups of P-47s. Then, F6F and P-40s escort in over 110 PV-1s and Mitchell IIs at 9k. Nick sees a stack of 4 units to the SW of base on trail. He send in a sweep of Georges followed by escorted Helens. My 4 units end up being American AA that tear into his Helens as they come in below 10k. [:D] [:-] Total losses for the day are 50 planes for Japan as he tried the same thing to the stack due west of Shwebo (5 AA units there).

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke -

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Shemya AF5; Silchar AF2 &3; Portland Roads F5;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Greater Luganville area invasions forces continue to gather at Vava'u or are headed that way from NZ.

My biggest ARD (55,000) capacity is headed for Vava'u as CV Saratoga still has 15 major flotation damage, but will be needed for the invasions.

[ny59giants]

August 1 thru 6:
The Allied "Death Star" gathers.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
Gato gets a TT hit on xAK (she is over the word "Sea" on the "Philippine Sea" words). An earlier posting gave me the idea of doing this. Thanks!!
KXVIII is hit twice by 4 DDs to west of Albany [30-54(21)-6(6)-0]
Seahorse gets a TT hit to west of Perth on xAK
Grayling is hit once to west of Merauke. Minor damage only.
Stingray gets a TT hit on a CM to east of Darwin.
I have over 10 subs in the Horn Island, Merauke, and Darwin shipping lanes.

CVs:
Mine are at Vava'u or very close to here. 2 new shiny Essex CVs, 2 CVLs, and escorts leave Panama. [8D]

India/Burma:
Shwebo area (base and 1 hex to west) - Up to 2 large Sendai of Tojos sweep (one over each hex). Then, Oscars escorts in over 150 Helens to hit the AF and/or troops daily. An increase of over 25%. [X(]

Chittagong - Troops and ships are starting to gather here for invasion of Ramree Island. Nick has left the base undefended. Forces that have been prepping for this include: 9 Aus Div, 50 Ind Para Bde, 2x Ind Bde, 2x SB Rgt, 2x RN BF, CD, 2 BF, AIF Pioneer. Most of them are near or at 100% prepped. No troops are located in the exit from this base either!?!

China:
Sian - The 27 Oscars sweep daily with occasional Sally & Sonia (up to 55 total). The AF damage is partially closed at 0-77-43 on 1st. The Sallys head north and leave only the 12 Sonia. Thus, repairs are possible slowly.

Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort in up to 40 Sally daily

Urumchi - Continues to survive repeated attacks.

Australia:
Horn Island - Sweeps followed by 2e bombers (about 60) daily. His LRCAP doesn't do well here as my P-38s, Spit V (the slow ones), and P-40Ks (the fast P-40s). Day losses everywhere on 1st are 63 Japan vs 17 Allied.

Kalgoorlie - Either the base is hit or the troops to the west are attacked. No Japanese fighters intervene.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke - I had left some warships at Horn on 1st. On 2nd, 2 Dutch CLs and 5 DDs hit the shipping along with Arleigh Burke's 6 Fletcher DDs. My Dutch TF gets no hits (they don't have radar and moonlight was less than 10%) vs 6 PB & 4 xAKL. However, Arleigh's TF sinks an AS, AG, AKE, & 2 PBs. [&o] On the 6th, my 2x 6 PT Boat TFs refueled by CL/DDs at Horn, hit base. I lose 6 and sink an ACM. His small SC TF of CL, 2 DD, 3 E do the sinking.

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Silchar AF5; Esperance P6; Coen F4;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Greater Luganville area invasions forces continue to gather at Vava'u or are headed that way from NZ.

CV Wasp - I post in Mod Section about her having the normal size of air groups for a 90 capacity CV vs her 76 plane capacity. It makes it hard to micro-manage her airgroups when they re-size or when I try to go from SBD-3s to -5s. I get an answer that they will not be changed in future versions of this mod (DBB 30). So, my first solution was to take off the SBDs (36 planes max) and place a smaller Avenger group (18 planes). Then, I get smart and realize that my damaged CVE still at Adelaide has her airgroup ashore and equipped with 28 F6Fs. They base hop to NZ, but cannot make the final jump to Vava'u. Thankfully, a CVE that was repairing at Sydney is between NZ and Vava'u. Her fighters fly ahead to Vava'u and these 28 F6Fs use her to get to Vava'u. They end up on CV Wasp.

CV Saratoga is in the large ARD (55,000 capacity) and her flotation damage is down to 12 from 15.

The Allied "Death Star" of carriers (CV, CVL, CVE) will be about 650 fighters (almost 500 Hellcats), 250 DBs, and 250 TBs. My pilots are not trained up as much as I would like, but will go forth anyway.

[ny59giants]

August 7, 8, 9:
Back to normal posting of just three days.
Multiple invasions to happen within a few weeks.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs: [>:]

CVs:
Mine are at Vava'u. 2 new shiny Essex CVs, 2 CVLs, and escorts are now on map.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area (base and 1 hex to west) - Up to 2 large Sendai of Tojos sweep (one over each hex). Then, Oscars escorts in over 170 Helens to hit the AF and/or troops daily.

Chittagong - Troops and ships are gathering here for invasion of Ramree Island.

China:
Sian - The 27 Oscars sweep daily with 12 Sonia. I now have moved an additional BF here and have two engineer units marching from Chungking.

Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort in up to 45 Sally daily

Urumchi - Two successful attack by Nick finally spells doom for this base. It doesn't fall yet, but will soon.

Australia:
Horn Island - Nothing for these three days.

Kalgoorlie - Either the base is hit or the troops to the west are attacked. No Japanese fighters intervene. Two groups of P-47s sweep to be followed by escorts of F6F and P-40Ks for the 125 PV-1/Mitchell II. 48 B-24s make the long trip from Ceduna for two days.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke - 75 P-38s in multiple waves to find the skies empty. [X(]

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Silchar AF5; Mornington Island P2; Dutch Harbor F6; Esperance F5;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Greater Luganville area invasions forces are at Vava'u.

Western Australia - While we have a stalemate here for the moment, I have been moving the 2 & 3 Aussie Div from Townsville over to Port Augusta. The SE corner shows the two divisions plus other troops marching across the desert. Now that they are on the trail, they are moving 15 miles per day. I should have everybody over around 1 Oct '43. Then, the final push will begin.

[JocMeister]

Sorry if you already told us and I missed it. But what are your invasion targets? [:)]

[ny59giants]

August 10, 11, 12:
Ramree Island captured. Urumchi falls. A2A over Albany.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
KXIV sinks a PB off Moulmein.

CVs:
Mine are at Vava'u. 2 new shiny Essex CVs, 2 CVLs, and escorts are now one day out from Canton island and fuel.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area (base and 1 hex to west) - Up to 2 large Sendai of Tojos sweep (one over each hex). Then, Oscars escorts in over 170 Helens to hit the AF and/or troops daily.

Ramree Island - Landings on 11th with para drop followed by Shock attack capturing the base. [:)] Nick admits that he was surprised and should have garrisoned this base after all the attention it has gotten in various AARs (especially John 3rd vs Canoerebel). On 12th, only 41 tojo sweep and find a LRCAP of 10 P-40s and 56 Hurricanes. I lose 2 for 5 Tojos. Over 70 bombers hit the Rgt in the hex due east of base.

Magwe - Hoping to find the skies empty on 11th, my B-24s go in unescorted. 52 Tojo and 22 Nicks are on CAP. I lose 6 B-24s and Wellingtons. His CAP leaks over two hexes to cover the troops at 2 SE of Akyab. I lose 48 planes to his 76 for the whole day (11th). Most of his are on the ground at Albany.

China:
Sian - 12 Sonia go in first before the 24 Oscars sweep on 10th. I move in 74 fighters (P-40Es, P-66s, and H81s) for a CAP trap for the 11th. He loses 8 Oscars on 11th and then 3 Sonia on 12th. I lose one plane over both days!!

Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort in up to 45 Sally daily

Urumchi - Falls on 10th. His Tank Rgt shock attacks the unit outside the base on 12th.

Australia:
Horn Island - Two of three P-38 groups sweep the skies (rotating them). This is followed by over 100 B-25s to hit AF with P-40s as escorts.

Kalgoorlie - Part of four groups worth of P-40s escort in over 120 PV-1/Mitchell IIs on 10th.

Albany - 50 P-47s and 54 Corsairs find the skies empty on the 10th. On the 11th, the 25 P-47s go in first to be followed by 25 more with 54 Corsairs in the second wave. Finally, the F6Fs and P-40s escort in over 120 PV/Mitchells to hit AF. On 12th.....

Morning Air attack on Albany , at 51,153

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1 Rex x 6
N1K1-J George x 80
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 21
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1 Rex: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
261 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (23 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
23 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead
934 Ku S-1 with N1K1 Rex (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 34000 and 34645.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
Zuiho-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 23 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 11 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (21 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
21 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
282 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 19 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
284 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 15 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000

The second sweep by 36 Corsairs with 25 P-47s does much better. Losses are 4 to his 19. The bombers with F6F and P-40s as escorts come in to find a rapidly shrinking LRCAP from Perth. After two days, AF damage shows 60.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke -

Central Pacific: All my PB4Y-1 bombers have been moved to Nauru Island. More training before they hit Tulagi just before the invasions go forth.

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Port Augusta P6; Lord Howe Island AF6; Normanton F5; Invercargill P3;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Greater Luganville area invasions forces are at Vava'u. Will leave over the next three days.

Air Losses - On 11th, it was 48 Allied vs 76 Japan with most of his being Tojo on the ground at Albany. His LRCAP over Albany on 12th does better, but losses are 38 Allied vs 74 Japan. Most of his are over Albany, so he will not lose too many pilots. 39 are George while I lose 12 Corsairs and 8 P-47s.

CV Saratoga is ordered out of the big ARD, but her major flotation damage went down to 10 just before this happened. [:D] [&o] She will be in the Wasp and Illustrious TF.

Burma - I now have 213 Engineers and 50 Engineer Vehicles at Ramree [Port 0(0) AF 0(5)]. Only the 7th Burma Militia Rgt blocks the exit from this base due east of base. As soon as the AF goes to level 1, the air transportable part of 9th Aussie Div will be lifted while my LSTs will carry the others to the base. Two more Bde are at Chittagong to follow. Meanwhile, the large stack one hex due west of Shwebo is marching at 8 miles per day. They will cross the river and stay on the west side of the Irrawaddy River.

[ny59giants]

Sorry if you already told us and I missed it. But what are your invasion targets? [:)]

Luganville - 41st ID, 3 Marine ID, 2x Tank, 2x Cmbt Eng, 1st Marine Amphib HQ, SoPac Command HQ, 2x FA. To be followed up by BF, Air HQ, and construction units.

Ndeni - 40th ID, 2x SB (SeaBees), Air HQ, 3x Boat & Shore Eng

Vanikoro - 159 Rgt, BF, Air HQ, 2x SB, 3x Boat & Shore Eng

Vanua Lava - 14 NZ Bde, Air HQ, 2x Port Maint, 2x SB, 3x Boat & Shore Eng

There is probably more, but this should be enough with just about everybody at 100% prep. The SoPac HQ will land at Vanua Lava as Luganville will be stacked high enough without her. Invasions should take place in just over one week.

Boat & Shore Eng help with unloading as they have Naval Support and Shore Parties (a DBB thing).

[JocMeister]

Chances are with his commitment in OZ he has already withdrawn from the New Hebrides and Santa Cruz. If I were him I would have withdrawn all the way back to New Britain leaving only token forces in the Solomons. Enough to forces you to prepp properly. Any intel of troops at your targets and further up the chain?

[ny59giants]

I already have some troops prepping for the lower Solomons to isolate G'canal and Tulagi. Troops to take New Calendonia area already in route or in the NZ to Pago Pago area. Most of the bases in Solomons are just dot bases so it may be a quick campaign. However, intel reports massive troops moving to or at Rabaul - 1 & 2 Tank Div, 5 Gds Div, Gds Mixed Bde. With the shear number of construction units the Allies have, I don't see too many slugfest developing. Going to be MacArthur as much as possible and by pass strong holds.

[seille]

Too bad, It would be really interesting to see if the Allies had problems with such a strong point (Rabaul).
I look at these things from a learning perspective [;)]

[ny59giants]

Juergen - No reason to bang my head against that wall.

[seille]

I would still like to see what happens [:)]

To be honest i would like to see a successful japanese defense to give me some confidence. Or at least a hard fight.
Could such a fortress stop you ? Or at least delay you a lot ?

[ny59giants]

Maybe now, but once '44 rolls around, only delays. Why?? The Allies steadily get better devices within their divisions and some other units. If you hit the "D" button and look at some of the Allied devices, you will see some have a significant increase in anti-armor values. From a 5 to 75 in some cases. A poster in another thread stated that these high anti-armor values are very helpful in knocking down forts. I'll find out how true this is shortly. As Japan, you will need to buy out (spend PP) on division and/or brigades that have significant amount of heavy equipment (artillery, combat engineers, etc.) vs some that are light on staying power devices. Things like the Naval Guards will get blown up quickly by Allied troops as they have nothing more than light MGs and small mortars.

[JocMeister]

Could he be forming a counter invasion force with the reinforcement arriving at Rabaul? Keep your eye on the intel and see what he starts prepping them for...

About the forts later later in the game I have to say even high level fort (5 and up) are mostly a nuisance. By mid 44 these babies start arriving! I guess the make forts mostly a waste of supply for the Japs! [:D]

[ny59giants]

This screenshot is for Jocke. Look at all those nice Support troops. [;)]

I would strongly recommend going over to DBB mods for your next game sir.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Could he be forming a counter invasion force with the reinforcement arriving at Rabaul? Keep your eye on the intel and see what he starts prepping them for...

About the forts later later in the game I have to say even high level fort (5 and up) are mostly a nuisance. By mid 44 these babies start arriving! I guess the make forts mostly a waste of supply for the Japs! [:D]

Confident are we?[;)]

[ny59giants]

August 13, 14, 15, 16:
Ramree Island base expanding. Invasion fleet gathers, but I had an oversight to fix. [:(]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
I-154, I-159, I-160 find out I have mines at Ramree the hard way. [:D]

CVs:
Mine are with the Amphib TFs at Wallis Island or headed there.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area (base and 1 hex to west) - Now that I have landed at Ramree, the sweeps and attacks have stopped. The large stack to the west will cross over river to the west and be joined shortly by troops in the jungle. This will give me over 2000 AV with 6 AA units to march down the west side of the Irrawaddy River and help open up the new front around Ramree. The question will be what Nick does to this stack once he sees it just over the river from Magwe??

Ramree Island -
I have visitors on 13th,

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ramree Island at 54,48, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu
CL Tama
DD Akigumo
DD Arashi
DD Michishio
DD Nagatsuki

Allied Ships
CL Caradoc
DD Relentless, Shell hits 1
DD Rotherham, Shell hits 2

This is followed up by attacks against my 2 DE TF on ASW duty (no hits). Then, my 2 CMs are sunk and I don't think they were able to lay their mines first (since my Port size is still 0, I cannot tell how many mines I have here.

Only 23 Tojo sweep the base (AF still at 0) and find a large LRCAP of 16 Corsairs, 56 P-38s, and 7 P-40s. We each lose two planes. Outside the base, the 7th Burma Militia Rgt is hit by 32 Blenheim IV. They get by his LRCAP of 28 Oscars, 22 Tojo, 8 Nicks. I lose 1 of 12 Liberators trying the same thing.
I sweep outside the base with 75 P-38s and find no LRCAP on 14th. Rats!! However, with the AF reaching size 1 last turn, I move in 4x groups of Hurricanes and LRCAP from Akyab. Nick is not happy [:@] as only one group of Tojo sweep and this is AFTER his Helens with limited Oscar escorts get eaten up. I get over 80 Hurricanes, P-40s, and Corsairs up to face the first strike. My heavy AA helps and I have over 450 engineers/engineer vehicles to repair AF and still get a slight expansion.
The first day of major sweeps happens on 15th. Four groups of Tojo come in and do well against a CAP/LRCAP made up mainly of Hurricane IIc. Having a speed of 321 mph is not good enough at this point in the war despite having 4x 20mm cannons. Overall losses across the map are 33 Allied vs 27 Japan. Thankfully, it is over my base and my Hurricane pools are deep.

China:
Sian - AF is repaired and is close to expanding to size 3. The fighters are moved back to Chungking.

Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort in up to 45 Sally daily. He has hex side control on 5 of 6 hex sides, but after an ealry failure to take base is going back to the Lanchow strategy of bombing the base and troops for a few weeks.

WTF!! - Nick notices and I see 3 Cav Corp and an Infantry Corp retreat out of hex without being attacked. Why?!? The troops are ALL without any supply...none, zip, nada. Anybody seen this before??

Australia:
Horn Island - 13 Spits sweep the skies on 13th. 42 B-25s hit the AF on 14th. 12 P-40s are on LRCAP and shoot down 4 of 8 Judys trying to get to my 3 DDs. 11 Spits sweep on 15th followed by 42 B-25s.

Kalgoorlie - After having the 13th off, I'm back to a sweep by 25 P-47s followed by over 110 PV/Mitchells with P-40s as escorts hitting the AF on 14th & 15th. I try to switch everybody one hex to west on 16th, but nobody flies.

Albany - [>:]

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke - My 3 DD TF heads over from Horn on 15th...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 89,124, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro
DD Suzunami
DD Fujinami, Shell hits 2
DD Hayanami
E Karukaya, Shell hits 1, on fire
E Kuri
E Tsuga, Shell hits 1
DD Suresushio

Allied Ships
DD Nizam
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 2, heavy fires [25-13(10)-7-0]

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
All will head for Brisbane for repairs and 9/43 upgrades.

Port Moresby -
I've decided to recon various bases and then send in my 75 P-38s to sweep bases (from Portland Roads) to be followed by my 12x 4e bomber groups (144 planes) to hit the AFs (from Cooktown). This base is without fighters and feels the wrath on 13th. He loses over 40 planes on the ground and the AF is semi-closed.
2 CLs with 7 DDs come in at Full Speed to sink the 2 SC. No further AF attacks.

Central Pacific:

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Ramree Island AF 1 & 2 (30%); Myitkyina AF 7; Warazup AF8; Sichar AF 8; Wotje P4; Kalemyo F5; Shemya AF6;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Air Losses - Bad day to be a Helen pilot was the 14th. The Allies lose 11 planes to 110 for Japan. Over 1/3 of the 168 Helens sent over Ramree are shot down. [:)][:)]

Weird - Only Nick's mission over Sining fly on 16th. Looks like "Mr Weather" interfered on 16th everywhere else. Helps me at Ramree.

Oversight - I discover that I have troops at Pago Pago for my invasions along with the SoPac Command HQ at Suvasuva without transports. Sent from Vava'u and loading started. Actual invasions should happen in 7 to 10 days from now. Lots of micro-management to do daily.

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: obvert
Confident are we?[;)]

Less so after the latest attack. &%&/#¤&/&¤!!! [:D]

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

This screenshot is for Jocke. Look at all those nice Support troops. [;)]

I would strongly recommend going over to DBB mods for your next game sir.

Already ahead of you. Playing a DBB game against SqzMyLemon. [:)] Next game will be a DBB-C game with PDU OFF!